Corner brush

ABSTRACT

Household-type cleaning brush has a handle which is generally Lshaped. The inner edges and corners are curved in such manner as to fit the hand conveniently for many different uses. The exterior edges are straight except that the corner is rounded and provided with bristles which slant toward the corner. Bristles adjacent the corner are longer so that the outer ends of the bristles completely fill the outline of a right angle.

' United stateS Patent H 1111 3,761,990

Lynn 1 Oct. 2, 1973 CORNER BRUSH FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 Inventor: David Lynn, Santa Cruz, 255,586 7/l926 Great Britain... 15/159 R Menlo P k. Callf- 6,122 10/1891 Norway 15 160 Flled 3 9 1 Primary ExaminerPeter Fcldman [2]] Appl. N0.: 185,267 ArlorneyJulian Caplan et al.

152 u'.s.c1 15/160, 15/143,1)4/3 [571 ABSTRACT 51 int. (:1. A46b 5/02, A46b 9/02 Household-type cleaning brush has a handle which [58] Field 61 Search 15/159 R, 160, 143, generally L-shapedi The inner edges and corners are 15/191, 192, 193, 106; D4/l, 3, 4, 10, 13 38 curved in such manner as to fit the hand conveniently for many different uses. The exterior edges are straight [56] References Cited except that the comer is rounded and provided with UNITED STATES PATENTS bristles which slant toward the corner. Bristles adjacent the corner are longer so that the outer ends of the bris- D99,364 4 1936 Paisley 15/160 ux 630,844 8/1899 Barratt 15 160 fies cmpletely ml the name a 3,346,900 10/1967 Stewart et al 1S/l60 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmmw 2 H FIG. 5

CORNER BRUSH This invention relates to a new and improved Corner Brush. More particularly, this invention relates to a brush used to clean corners effectively. Typical uses of the device are in cleaning bathroom tile, floors, particularly of linoleum, and utensils such as deep pots. Ordinary scrubbing brushes do not fit into the corners as efficiently as a brush in accordance with the present invention.

A principal feature of the invention is the fact that the handle of the brush is shaped so that it is very comfortable when held in the hand in a variety of different positions. Further, the handle will fit equally well in either the right or left hand of the user. Thus, despite the utility of the brush and the fact that the user applies the same at a wide range of positions, nevertheless, it is held conveniently in all such positions.

A further feature of the invention is the angular shape of the handle and the rounded corners of the angles. The shape of the handle is such as to promote the aforementioned comfortable feel of the brush when held in the hand.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the ends of the bristles form a right angle even though the bristles are not set perpendicular to the brush edges. The length of the bristles are greatest at the center, where the greatest wear occurs, and fill the right angle aforementioned.

It is another feature of the invention that there are two rows of bristles which are staggered so as to effectively fill the entire area to be covered by the brush with a fullness of bristle material.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a brush in accordance with the present invention partially broken away to reveal internal construction.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation from the left of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the brush held in the'hand used to clean a corner.

I FIG. 4A is a view of the brush of FIG. 5 viewed from the opposite side.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the brush used in another position.

The handle of the present invention is preferably formed of wood or plastic material and its shape is one of the principal features of the invention. The front and rear faces ll, 12 are preferably flat and parallel and spaced apart approximately inch, a dimension which enables the fingers of the user to grip the hand effectively. As is apparent from FIG. I, the handle 10 is generally angular in shape but the edges are not parallel and the corners are rounded all as hereinafter explained in detail. Each angular side of the handle 14) is approximately 4% inches in length and the fullness of each end of the handle at the widest point is about l-A inches. It will be understood that these dimensions are not necessarily precise. However, it has been found that the dimensions mentioned and the proportions indicated in the accompanying drawings are most suitable for the construction of the brush.

The inner edges 13 of handle 10 are perpendicular to each other and straight and a short radius 14 is formed at the innercorner where the edges 13 intersect. The outer edges 16 are slanted inwardly at an angle of approximately relative to each other. A central, large radius I7 is formed tangent to the outer edges 16. The outer ends 18 are oppositely curved with a wide radius of curvature so that the surface l7, l6, 18 on either side of the brush is very smooh and curved to fit the palm of the user, as hereinafter explained.

Each edge 13 is formed with two rows of holes 19 which slant outwardly and toward the corner 14. The holes I9 are staggered so that more bristles may be inserted in the brush. The bristles are preferably ofa plastic material such as polypropelene, although natural bristles may be used. Bristles 22 along the side edges 13 are of uniform length. The center bristles 24 adjacent the radius 14 are shaped so as to form a point 14 at the center. Thus, the outer ends of all the bristles are approximately at right angles, a shape which is most effec tive for cleaning corners.

In FIGS. 4 and 4A, a typical use of the device is illustrated wherein the corner between a vertical wall and a floor is being cleaned. One of the rounded corners I8 is fitted into the palm of the hand. The thumb of the hand is placed'on surface 11 generally parallel to edge 15 and the end of the thumb is close to corner 19, while the fingers grip the opposite surface 12, the fingers generally being at right angles of the thumb. In this position, the corner 18 is gripped in the palm of the hand and rounded corner 18 nests into the palm in a very comfortable manner. The position of the brush is controlled by the fingers pushing against the surface 12 while the thumb pushes against the surface 11. Essentially the same position of fingers and thumbs enables the user to move the brush not only vertically but horizontally.

As shown in FIG. 5, the angular dot and dash lines are intended to represent the sides and bottom of a large pot. For such purpose, the user puts one thumb on the surface ll extending to adjacent corner 14 and the fingers are positioned on the opposite surface 12 parallel to the thumb.

Here again the rounded edges 18 tend to locate the handle 10 in the palm of the user and the converging side edges 16 make the grip more secure.

Although two different positions of uses have been illustrated, it will be understood that other positions are also conveniently used.

What is claimed is:

ll. A corner brush comprising a handle and bristles embedded in said handle, said handle having front and back faces, said faces substantially parallel to each other, first and second inner edges of substantially the same length and perpendicular to each other meeting at a rounded inside corner whereby said brush fits with equal convenience in either hand substantially equal, outer edges slanted inwardly at an angle of about 70 relative to each other and spaced from said inner edges, a central, large diameter radius at the juncture of said outer edges, and outer corners curved from the outer ends of said outside edges with a wide radius of curvature to merge with the outer ends of said inner edges so that said outer corners fit the palm of the hand holding said brush, said brush being symmetric about a line through the intersection of said inner edges at a 45 angle to said inner edges, said edges and corners per- 3 4 pendicular to said faces, said bristles recessed into said lying on a right angle parallel to said inner edges. inside edges, said bristles being recessed into said inner 2. A brush according to claim 1 in which said bristles edges to slant toward said line, the bristles adjacent said inside corner being longer than the bristles remote from .said inside corner, the outer ends of said bristles 5 are located in two staggered rows. 

1. A corner brush comprising a handle and bristles embedded in said handle, said handle having front and back faces, said faces substantially parallel to each other, first and second inner edges of substantially the same length and perpendicular to each other meeting at a rounded inside corner whereby said brush fits with equal convenience in either hand substantially equal, outer edges slanted inwardly at an angle of about 70* relative to each other and spaced from said inner edges, a central, large diameter radius at the juncture of said outer edges, and outer corners curved from the outer ends of said outside edges with a wide radius of curvature to merge with the outer ends of said inner edges so that said outer corners fit the palm of the hand holding said brush, said brush being symmetric about a line through the intersection of said inner edges at a 45* angle to said inner edges, said edges and corners perpendicular to said faces, said bristles recessed into said inside edges, said bristles being recessed into said inner edges to slant toward said line, the bristles adjacent said inside corner being longer than the bristles remote from said insiDe corner, the outer ends of said bristles lying on a right angle parallel to said inner edges.
 2. A brush according to claim 1 in which said bristles are located in two staggered rows. 